DARIO Gradi says he has enough attacking options available ahead of the new season.

The Crewe boss has also revealed he wants to give young Nicky Maynard a fair crack of the whip as the Alex look to bounce back to the Championship at the first attempt.

The Winsford-based 19-year-old scored with his very first touch as Crewe beat Millwall 4-2 in the final game of last season.

Gradi said: 'I've got enough to start with, I've got Michael Higdon and Luke Rodgers as well as Nicky Maynard waiting in the wings. I want to give him a go, which is why we're not looking for another small forward.

'Luke Rodgers is a firm favourite with the supporters, they'd like to see him play. Gareth Taylor and Eddie Johnson ended the season so there would be no reason to assume they wouldn't start it, all being well and they sign.

'I'm not going to go out and look when I've got Luke, as well as Higdon, and it'll be interesting to see how Mat Bailey does in pre-season as well.

'It might be the season Varney comes good, I'm sure by the end of the season he'll be playing better than he did last year.'